“Good government requires a strong public service.”

At her Annual Statement on APS Reform, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher, Minister for the Public Service, reflected on the progress of the commitments of the reform agenda. Here are some of the key points from her speech and her conversation with IPAA ACT Board Member Trish Bergin, professor of practice and adjunct fellow at UNSW Canberra:

💬The APS needs to be an enduring independent institution, outlasting governments
💬the job of today’s APS is more complex than two decades ago, requiring more and differently skilled people
💬the APS Amendment Act focuses on integrity, with stewardship as a new value
💬integrity means that leaders need to assess not only if, but how outcomes are achieved
💬centralised bargaining has created greater pay consistency
💬the public service is becoming more diverse, for example through increased First Nations representation at the SES level
💬the APS CALD Strategy aims to help represent more diversity in the public service’s executive
💬capability is being rebuilt, with less reliance on external consultants, and an internal consulting system within the APS
💬it is no longer a question of if, but how AI is integrated into businesses and government
💬the APS should set the standard as a good and interesting workplace.

Thank you to Ngunnawal woman and respected emerging leader Selina Walker for her generous Welcome to Country.

• Transcript – a copy of the transcript is available here.
• Video – a video of the event is below or can be viewed on the IPAA ACT Vimeo channel.
  Photos – a selection of photos are available below (Photo credit: contentgroup)